Electrical connection box



Jam 1952 J. E. DIEFFENDERFER ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BOX Filed Feb. 4,1946 i fa/wey Patented Jan. 8, 1952 2,581,755 ELEQIR QAL C NEC ION BOXJohn Elwood Dieffenderfer, Constantine, Mich, assignor of one-half to J.Harvey, Dearborn, Mich.

A pl ti n Fe eerr 4, 94.6 see! N- 4. 4 9 Claims. (Cl. 220-3-6) vantageswhich 'issimple and economical in its parts in assembly thereof and inmanipulation.

Objects relating "to'd'etails' and economies of the invention willappear fromfthe' description to follow, The invention is defined andpointedoutintheclaims'f A structure which embodies the features of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an outl t box em,- bodying my inventionin assembled relation to a wallpanel.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in section on line 2- 2 in Fig. 1, one' ofthe bracket members being shown in engaged position by full lines, theother being shown in initial position by full lines and in engaged"position by dotted lines.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective view.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the mount ing brackets.

In the accompanying drawing, I represents a wall panel of plaster,beaver "board, or the like having a hole 2 therein adapted to receivethe connection box 3, an outlet box being illustrated.

in this preferred embodiment I provide a pair of bracket membersdesignated generally by the numeral 4, these being'moun'te'dbn the outersides of opposed walls of the box. Bracket members d'are formed of sheetmetal folded to pro vide an outwardly projecting flange 5 adapted tooverlap the front'side'of' the support. The

forming of the range by folding thestock provides the desired rigiditywith relatively light stock or stock of light gage.

The brackets are in effect angular in'jshape and have slots 6 adapted toreceivethattachin screws 1. The brackets have inwardly projectingbendable arms 8, the. arms desirably having spaced weakened zones 9'resulting from holes it. Straps l! preferably integral withithe armsare reversely folded thereon and of such length as to project initiallyup o n th front of the box as shown Fi gfijso that they may be graspedwith pliers or other suitabletoofand a annexerted thereon would resultin the bending of the arms at the weakened zones into engagement withthe inner sides of the support as shown at I2 in the drawings, that is,the arms are bent outwardly to project behind the edges of the supportopenings and to engage the's upport in opposed relation to the flanges 5of the brackets.

After the retaining arms have been bent'into engaging position, the endsof the straps are folded over the edges of the box" an d disposed withinthebox as shown at l3. This enables the very rigid anchoring of the boxin the support opening. Should it becomenecessarvto renew the box, theends of the strap may be swung to extended position and a tool insertedto bend the arms back against the sides of the box or out of engagementwith the support, permitting the box to be renewed.

My improved brackets may be very economically produced and they are veryquickly andasuy manipulated for the mounting of "the box.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe Various adaptations ormodifications which may be desirable for particular designs or typ'esofboxes, as it is believed that these disclosures will enable thoseskilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may b-e'desired.

"Having thus described my invention-what I claim as new and desire tosecure by letters patent is: l; The combination with a connection box,of brackets mounted on'the outer sides of opposed walls of the box andhaving laterally projecting support engaging flanges, said bracketshaving transversely spaced inwardly projecting bendable arms disposedalong the sides of the box and having longitudinally spaced weakenedzones, andstraps integral with and extending from the inner'ends'of thearm and reversely folded relative thereto to lie between said arms andthe sides of the box and initially projecting beyond'fthe front edges ofthe arms'wherebyfthey may be grasped and the arms, bent outwardlyrelative tame box into retaining clamping engagement with a support inopposed relation to the flanges or thei'brackets by Pulling on thestraps and the straps'then folded over the ed es of the box intoretaining engagement therewith with'the "ends of the' straps disposedwithin the box. Y' '2. The combination with a connection box, ofbrackets mounted on the outer sides of opposfed walls of the box andhaving laterally projectingsupport-engaging flanges, said brackas havingtransversely spaced inwardly projects ing bendable arms disposed alongthe sides of the box and having longitudinally spaced weakened zones,and straps integral with and extending from the inner ends of the armsand reversely folded relative thereto and initially projecting beyondthe front edges of the arms whereby they may be grasped and the armsbent outwardly relative to the box into retaining clampin engagementwith a support in opposed relation to the flanges of the brackets bypulling on the straps.

3. The combination with a connection box, of brackets mounted on theouter sides of opposed walls of the box and having laterally projectingsupport engaging flanges, said brackets having inwardly projectingbendable arms disposed at the sides of the box, and bendable strapsintegrally connected to the inner ends of the arms and of a lengthsubstantially greater than that of the arms to initially projectoutwardly beyond said support engaging flanges whereby they may begrasped and the arms bent outwardly relative to the box into retainingclamping engagement with a support in opposed relation to the flanges ofthe brackets by pulling on the straps, the ends of said straps beingfolded over the edges of the box into retaining engagement therewithwith the ends of the straps within the box.

4. The combination with a connection box, of brackets mounted on theouter sides of opposed walls of the box and having laterally projectingsupport engaging flanges, said brackets having inwardly projectingbendable arms disposed at the sides of the box and bendable strapsintegrally connected to the inner ends of the arms and of a lengthsubstantially greater than that of the arms to initially projectoutwardly beyond said support engaging flanges on opposite sides of aconnection box and having a laterally projecting support engaging flangearranged to be clamped against the front surface of a support alongsideof an opening in the support in which the box is received, said brackethaving rearwardly projecting transversely spaced bendable arms disposedin parallel relationship along the side of the box and havinglongitudinally spaced weakened portions, and

straps integrally connected with and extending from the rear ends ofsaid arms and reversely folded relative thereto and initially projectingbeyond the front edge of the arms whereby the straps may be grasped andpulled forwardly relative to the box causing the arms to bend at saidweakened portions and swing the rear portions of said arms outwardlyrelative to the box into retaining engagement with the rear edge of theopening in said support.

' 6. A bracket adapted to be mounted in pairs on opposite sides of aconnection box and having a laterally projecting support engaging flangearranged to be clamped against the front surface of a support alongsideof an opening in the support in which the box is received, said brackethaving a rearwardly projecting bendable arm disposed in parallelrelationship along the side of the box and having longitudinally spacedweakened portions, and a bendable strap integrally 4 connected with andextending from the rear end of said arm and reversely folded relativethereto and of a length reater than that of said arm to initiallyproject beyond the front edge of the arm whereby the strap may begrasped and pulled forwardly relative to the box causing" the arm tobend at said weakened portions and swing therear 'portionof said armoutwardly relative to the box into retaining engagement with the rearedge of the opening in said support.

7. A support engaging bracket adapted to be secured to the side wall ofa connection box comprising, a flange on said bracket projectinglaterally from the front edge of said box when said bracket is mountedthereon, a rearwardly projecting bendable arm on said bracket, and astrap integrally connected to the rear end of the arm and reverselyfolded and disposed initially in lapped relationship between said armand said side with the free end of the strap projecting forwardly beyondthe front edge of the box whereby the rear portion of the arm may bebent outwardly of the box into retaining engagement with a support bypulling forwardly on the strap.

8. A support engaging bracket adapted to be secured to the side wall ofa connection box comprising, a flange on said bracket projectinglaterally from the front edge of said box when said bracket is mountedthereon, a rearwardly projecting bendable arm on said bracket, and astrap connected to the rear end of the arm and of a length greater thanthat of said arm to initially project forwardly beyond the front edge ofthe box whereby the rear portion of the bracket may be bent outwardly ofthe box into retaining engagement with a support by pulling forwardly onthe strap, the free end of said arm being bendable back upon itself toconstitute securing means for the same. i

9. A bracket for mounting a connection box comprising, an arm adapted tobe secured to and disposed along the side of the box and having abendable rear portion, and a bendable strap connected to the rearportion of the arm and of a length greater than that of said arm toinitially project forwardly beyond the edge of the box whereby the armmay be bent outwardly relative to the box into retaining engagement witha support by a pull on the strap and the strap then folded over an edgeof the box.

10. A bracket for mounting a connection box comprising, an arm adaptedto be secured to and disposed along the side of the box and havingabendable rear portion, and a bendable strap integrally connected to therear portion of the arm and of a length greater than that of said arm toinitially project forwardly beyond the edge of the box whereby the armmay be bent outwardly relative to the box into retaining engagement witha support by a pull on the strap.

JOHN ELWOOD DIEFFENDERFER.

REFERENCES I CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,083,415 Wood June 8, 19372,309,189 Hancock et al Jan. 26, 1943 2,334,799 Thompson Nov. 23, 19432,448,359 Davison Aug. 31, 1948 2,456,450 Sauter Dec. 14, 1948

